Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 44

शिवस्य सैन्यप्रयाणम् तथा गणपतिनामावलिः (Śiva’s Mobilization for War and the Catalogue of Gaṇa Commanders)

Devanagari script

समर्थमस्त्रकं दिव्यं दिव्यास्त्रं शतकं परम् । बिभ्रती च करैस्सर्वैरन्यान्यपि च सा तदा

Transliteration

samarthamastrakaṃ divyaṃ divyāstraṃ śatakaṃ param | bibhratī ca karaissarvairanyānyapi ca sā tadā

Translation

那时她——威能具足、备战无碍——执持奇妙的天界兵器：尤以至上的百种神圣飞矢为最，并且诸般兵刃亦皆在她诸手之中。

Word by Word

• समर्थम्: powerful, effective
• समर्थम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘अस्त्रकम्’)

• अस्त्रकम्: a weapon (missile/weaponry)
• अस्त्रकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• दिव्यास्त्रम्: a divine weapon
• दिव्यास्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्य-अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (divine weapon)

• शतकम्: a hundred (set)
• शतकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक (a hundred)

• परम्: supreme, excellent
• परम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (excellent/supreme)

• बिभ्रती: carrying, bearing
• बिभ्रती: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘carrying/bearing’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• करैः: with (her) hands
• करैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• सर्वैः: with all
• सर्वैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘करैः’)

• अन्यानि: other (things/weapons)
• अन्यानि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषण/सर्वनामवत् (other)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (particle: also/even)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It highlights Shakti as the active, protective power of the Shaiva tradition—fully competent to uphold dharma, showing that divine grace can manifest as both compassion and formidable strength.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

While the Linga points to Shiva’s transcendent (nirguṇa) reality, this verse emphasizes the saguna manifestation of divine power—Shiva’s grace operating through Shakti in tangible form to restore cosmic order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva with Shakti (Ardhanārīśvara-bhāva) while repeating the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating inner steadiness (samarthatā) and invoking divine protection in adversity.